Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) beat Gujarat Titans (GT) by five wickets in the final of IPL 2026, becoming only the third team to defend their title successfully after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. Here's how their player reacted after the win.
Virat Kohli: 'Didn't feel like the same pressure as last year'
"I said to a few other boys that it doesn't feel like the same pressure as last year. We knew what kind of ability we have in the group. We topped the table. There's a reason we got here first, and we just said one thing: if we stick to our cricket, if we execute our plans, we are the best team in the comp, and there's a reason why we have done well so far in the group stage. We ended up topping the league stage. And yeah, just the skill sets we have, the maturity, the composure of the guys just shown through again tonight, and it was a clinical performance.
"Well, to be fair, after the break [in early May], we had one loss. And then we had a close win against MI. I'd say that week was a bit tricky for us because we wanted to finish at the top. But as soon as we got that win against MI, the belief came back in. Then we had a comprehensive win against KKR [Kolkata Knight Riders], and then yeah, just ended up topping the table and just on our way to the finals.
"It's been amazing. I mean, we had to wait for so long and then you know... just to have a group of guys where you feel like when you are stepping on to the ground, you don't need to be the one to step up every time. There is a guy behind you, around you, who can win games of cricket for you. We have so many Man-of-the-Match awards spread throughout the group as well.
"I mean, you look at world-class bowling, like Hoff [Josh Hazlewood], Bhuv [Bhuvneshwar Kumar], Duff [Jacob Duffy], I mean, Krunal Pandya, you can bank on him as good as ever. Rasikh [Salam] Dar was brilliant this season. And all the batsmen chipped in as well. I feel so happy to be playing in a group where we have balance, we have strength and we are an all-round strong team. That's why we have the confidence we have on the field right now."
Rajat Patidar: 'I never dreamed of this'
"It feels superb [to win back-to-back titles]. When we came here, there were a lot of memories of the last year, the way we played last year. But at the same time, we had to be more in the present. I don't have words to express, but I'm feeling good. It was clear when we won the toss that it was easy to chase. Our plan was to get their top three in the powerplay, so that it's easy for us. And our bowlers bowled brilliantly, not only in this match but throughout the tournament.
"To be honest, I never dreamed of that, to be a captain and lift a trophy for RCB. I think it was all written, and I'm grateful for it. Last year, there was a lot of pressure because it was the first year for us, and this year, I think we were pretty much confident because of the way we played in this tournament. Everyone was looking in a good frame of mind. It was good to see the fans who are coming wherever we go. It was like a home ground for us, so I think overall it was great for our city.
"The pre-tournament prep was very good for me. I tried to analyse which are the shots that I can improve on, against fast bowlers especially.
"I think whenever I see him [Kohli] on the field and off the field also, he is always there for the team. He is always there for the players, especially the new players who are coming in. They have a lot of hesitation to speak, but he goes straightaway and talks to them."
Josh Hazlewood: 'Three-peat, yeah, I can't see why not'
"That's right up there. I think obviously a little bit more relaxed within the group this year. Sort of got the monkey off the back last year in terms of a long wait for that first win, but I think the group just felt calm and composed throughout the whole tournament, really. Someone stepped up when they needed to. We had again like ten [different] Man of the Matches, so amazing depth in the squad. Anyone who came in did a great job, and the bowling - Bhuvi is pretty special.
"I can't remember a game where he went for over 35 runs. In this day and age, it's unbelievable. He got wickets up front nearly every game he played. It just took the heat off. The rest of us, we could relax, and we were bowling at Nos. 4 and 5 in the powerplay. So it's pretty nice.
"I think the franchise has been put together beautifully. Not just the players, but I think the support staff, again, it's a nice, relaxed atmosphere to try to play your best cricket and perform. I think it's hard to build that culture so quickly when the team changes quite a bit every three years, but it feels like we've got that now. Obviously winning helps, but it just feels like the team's quite a tight unit and we're playing for someone else other than ourselves sort of all the time. Three-peat, yeah, I can't see why not."
Devdutt Padikkal: 'As long Kohli is there, there's no need to be nervous'
"It has been incredible, honestly. The entire group - just batting with these guys - it has been, really, really special. When you have such quality around you, I think it makes you go up a level, and I think that's what's happened with me.
"They [bowlers] have been unbelievable throughout the season. The plans they execute day in and day out is incredible to see. I've been in a few meetings. I see how meticulously they plan, and when they go out there, they go and follow it to the T. So having that kind of professionalism is great to have, and that's what put us in good stead.
"When each wicket fell, I was just talking to Venky [Venkatesh Iyer]. He was asking me, 'Are you getting nervous?' I was like, as long as he [Kohli] is there, there's no need to be nervous because he knows what he is doing and he does it every single time. Just watching him continue to improve his game - he has not stayed still; he's continuously evolving, continuously working on his game. You can see he is hungry for more, so it's great to see that.
"After the season finished last year, we spoke about trying to go back-to-back and making sure we stick to that feeling of winning games, winning trophies, and I'm glad that we were able to do it."
Krunal Pandya: 'Every IPL trophy is special'
"There's no doubt about it, every IPL trophy is special. It's like having kids, you can't pick [one], it's similar with IPL trophies because everything is so hard-earned. I'm grateful that in 11 years, to have five trophies, it's been special for me. A lot of credit goes to the support staff - Mo Babat, Andy Flower, Dinesh Karthik, Malolan [Rangarajan] - the way they prepared for the auction last year and the way they set the team, the balance of it. Sometimes you win half the battle in the auction and they did a pretty good job. Then eventually it was on us to go out and deliver. And I am glad that we were able to hold the trophy back-to-back. All this wait of 18 years and then winning back-to-back trophies, this is for the RCB fans - wherever we have gone, they have supported us. And obviously for Virat as well. Pretty special, having two trophies. It's amazing."
Bhuvneshwar Kumar: 'We all had each other's back'
"The trophy is the most important thing for us - I'd trade [my wickets] any day for that. But yes, individually, the season went well for me. There was planning, there were a lot of things before the season and it went well.
"If you take wickets, the confidence is always up, and I think coming to the big game like that, if you have performed well in the past, it always helps. But credit goes to each and every one. We all had each other's back, and that's what you need in a big game like that."
Jitesh Sharma: 'We are not defending. We are attacking this trophy'
"As Mo had said earlier, we are not defending… 'we are attacking this trophy'. We are chasing something. Because of that, our mindset changed. We are trying to dominate more. We are not defensive. We are thinking of defending our trophy like that.
"I think credit goes to the management. The way they have nourished us, given us surroundings. Like I am… 32 years old. But the way DK [Dinesh Karthik] anna has taken care of me, Mo, when I was not performing. I think it gives you an identity that there are good people in this team. You are not a big player. If you are a good human, you can give something to the team. They will give you value.
"We also know that we are a very strong team. But we were focusing more on one game at a time. One game at a time, it's tactics, how to execute it. Just one match at a time… we kept focusing. We never thought about how good we were playing. We kept our focus on ourselves and our tactics."